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        Special Topics 特別主題 >> Black-faced Spoonbill 黑臉琵鷺 >>  Update of mass death Black-faced Spoonbills 
        
(Message started by: Project Officer on Jan 11^th, 2003, 11:20am)

Title: Update of mass death Black-faced Spoonbills
Post by Project Officer on Jan 11^th, 2003, 11:20am

Quote"

Chronicle of Black-faced Spoonbill crisis in Tseng-wen Estuary, December 2002 and January 2003 (part 3)

This is the follow up of Dec. 30, 2002 issued BFSB status. The sources of following are from COA officials, Wild Bird Society of Tainan, Wild Bird Society of Happy Family, Wetland Taiwan, and Black-faced Spoonbill Conservation Society.

2003/12/30
The Council of Agriculture announced that both Tainan Hsien Livestock Disease Control Center of Tainan and National Veterinary Research Institute in Tamsui obtained Antiserum of type C botulin from Center for disease Control. The neutalization test to affected Black-faced Spoonbill serum confirmed Type C botulism is the cause of mass death of Black-faced Spoonbill in Tseng-wen Estuary. The tests were double checked by two institutions.

COA also reported that eighty doses of Anti-type C botulin antisum for treatment were ordered from United States to reserved for future use.

2003/12/31
Two avian botulism experts from Japan, Dr. Shunji Kozake and Dr. Masato Takeda were invited by Council of Agriculture on to investigate the cause of Black-faced Spoonbill crisis.

2003/1/3
After they visited the site and did some sampling and analysis, Dr. Shunji Kozake and Dr. Masato Takeda concluded the botulism type C was the cause and made some suggestions of environment improvement to the Government.

2003/1/4
Another could front came, temperature drop near 10 degree C. The third wave of botulism broke out, however this time the casualty was low, 8 birds were affected and 3 of them were found dead. The death toll added to 71. Five sick birds were immediately injected with anti-type C botulin antiserum just received from United States.

2003/1/5
Prof Kim Sooil the top Black-faced Spoonbill breeding biology researcher from South Korea lead other 4 member from Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) come to Taiwan for 5 days visit to understand the cause of Black-faced Spoonbill botulism epidemic in Tseng-wen Estuary and action of Taiwanese Government and NGO took to prevent further spread of the disease. Strengthen the collaboration and information exchange of Black-faced Spoonbill conservation between breeding grounds and wintering sites was proposed.

2003/1/6
The sick birds from Jan 4 were recovered extremely well upon the treatment of anti botulin antiserum. It proved the effectiveness of antiserum treatment for early onset birds.

By
Woei-horng Fang, Ph.D.
Vice President
Wild Bird Federation Taiwan

"Unquote

International Black-faced Spoonbill Census: 24-26January 2003
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/waterbird/bfs.html

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